Dispenser for z-folded precut wiping materials stored in cardboard cassette packaging

ABSTRACT

A dispensing machine for pre-cut wipe materials stored in cardboard paper containers comprises a common housing capable of accommodating two packaging boxes having different configurations allowing the pulled strip of material to emerge differently from the top or from the bottom of the dispensing machine so that it can be cut, in combination with two types of covers which fit on said housing. Each of the covers is compatible with a different one of the boxes to allow the strip of material that is to be cut to emerge from various locations of the dispensing machine. The combined shapes of the housing, the packaging boxes and the covers makes it possible to selectively dispense and separate strips of wipe material in a given size from the top or the bottom.

The invention relates to the technical field of machines and equipment for dispensing accordion-pleated pre-cut wipe, hand-wipe, general-purpose wipe and paper-towel materials.

The use of dispensing machines for wipe materials with automatic cutting for which the Applicant has developed a large number of inventions that have been put into service is known.

The Applicant has also developed, on the basis of new research, a dispensing machine for pre-cut wipe materials that allows loading of packs of materials and which is defined in French patent No. 08.54164. In the concept defined therein, the strip of material is paid out from a stack of accordion-pleated material and transported between the stack part and the inner wall of a cover before emerging at the bottom through a central shaped window which allows the material to emerge and has limit stops around said window that have a discontinuity which makes it possible to guide the pulled material out of the machine and facilitate separation of a piece of the strip starting from the adjacent perforated line.

The Applicant has continued its research work by designing a dispenser box for pre-cut wipe materials that are defined in French patent FR 08.54162. This box has a parallelepiped volume and uses a shaped panel having a half-moon shape which is located underneath the upper horizontal flap that closes the box, the box being designed with a half-moon shape which matches the above-mentioned shape, and makes it possible, once they have been moved closer together and inserted into each other, to configure a path for guiding and shaping the pulled strip of material so that it can be separated along the predetermined perforated line. In this case, the packaging box made of cardboard can be disposable after it has been used.

The Applicant has continued new research work in order to offer consumers a new dispensing machine concept which makes it possible to have a specific storage space for cardboard packaging boxes in the form of disposable containers in order to dispense strips of accordion-pleated pre-cut wipe materials.

The solution proposed by the Applicant is thus intended to cater for the configuration of the packaging box holders by allowing, using two packaging holder configurations, said dispensing of wipe materials.

According to a first aspect, the machine for dispensing pre-cut wipe materials stored in cardboard packaging holders is distinctive in that it uses a system comprising a common housing capable of accommodating two packaging boxes having different configurations allowing the pulled strip of material to emerge differently from the top or from the bottom of the dispensing machine so that it can be cut, this being done in combination with two types of covers which fit on said housing and in that said covers are themselves designed to be compatible with the two types of boxes and to allow the strip of material that is to be cut to emerge from various locations of the dispensing machine and in that the combined shapes of the housing, the shapes of the packaging boxes and the shapes of the covers is the only combination which makes it possible to dispense and separate strips of wipe material in a given size.

These aspects and others will become apparent from the following description.

The object of the present invention is described, merely by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of the dispensing machine for pre-cut wipe material that is capable of accommodating, in a housing that holds two types of packaging boxes with different material outlets, two covers that are suitable for each type of packaging box.

FIG. 2 shows a first version of a packaging box for pre-cut wipe materials before it is closed.

FIG. 3 is a view which supplements FIG. 2 and shows the packaging box when it is closed.

FIG. 4 is a view of the dispensing machine which accommodates the packaging box in FIGS. 2 and 3 when the machine is closed and the material emerges from the top in a first cover configuration.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the dispensing machine shown in FIG. 4, showing how the pre-cut strip of material emerges.

FIG. 6 is a view of a second version of the packaging box when it is open.

FIG. 7 is a view of the dispensing machine for pre-cut wipe material stored in the packaging box in FIG. 6 with another cover configuration and the cover being closed.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the dispensing machine shown in FIG. 7.

In order that the present invention may more readily be understood, the following description is given, merely by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings.

The dispensing machine for accordion-pleated pre-cut wipe material is referred to in its entirety as D. It makes it possible to dispense wipe materials stored using a system comprising a common housing (1) capable of accommodating two packaging boxes B1-B2 having different configurations allowing the pulled strip of material to emerge differently from the top or from the bottom of the dispensing machine so that it can be cut, this being done in combination with two types of covers C1-C2 which fit on said housing, said covers themselves being designed to be compatible with the two types of boxes and to allow the strip of material that is to be cut to emerge from various locations of the dispensing machine. FIG. 1 illustrates this arrangement perfectly.

Housing (1) has a frontwardly open parallelepiped shape with a rear face (la), two lateral faces (1 b-1 c) and a horizontal bottom face (1 d) making it possible to accommodate one of the chosen boxes (B1 or B2). The lower part (1 d) of the housing has a cut-out (1 d 1), the width of which equals the width of matching cut-outs on cover (C2). The housing also has two lower protruding tabs (le) with an opening (1 f) in order to hinge one of the chosen covers (C1 or C2). The rear face itself is designed with two strips (1 g) that are pre-cut on three sides and flexible so as to exert thrust when they come into contact with stored box (B1) or (B2).

Covers (C1) and (C2) have a common configuration with a forward front wall (2 a) which corresponds to the front opening of the housing and a horizontal upper wall (2 b) fitted with a means of closing and locking (3) of the key type and two lateral flanges (2 c), the lower ends of which form a tab and have an opening (2 d) through which a hinge pin (4) for the housing passes.

In the first version, cover (C1) has, at the point where front wall (2 a) and horizontal upper wall (2 b) meet, a cut-out (2 c) forming a window through which the pulled strip of material originating from box (B1) can pass. This cut-out has a substantially rectangular configuration and is located in the middle part of the cover. In addition, cover (C1) has a shaped support plate (20 capable of elastic deformation on the lower inner face of its upper wall. As shown in FIG. 1, this plate (20 is U shaped and the ends of its legs (2 f 1) are attached by bonding, welding or riveting to said upper wall (2 b). This plate is designed to press against the upper panel of box (B1) as explained later on. Note that the lower horizontal end (2 g) of front wall (P1) is straight.

In cover configuration (C2), upper wall (2 b) has no specific feature apart from means (3) of closing and locking. In contrast, the lower end (2 g) of the front wall has a central cut-out or window (2 h) through which the pulled strip of material can pass. In addition, either side of this window there are two limits stops (2 m) in a perpendicular plane which have a discontinuity (2 ml) that makes it possible to guide the pulled material out of the machine, thus facilitating separation of a piece of strip starting from the adjacent perforated line.

The specific configuration of each of the boxes (B1) (B2) is described below.

See FIGS. 2 to 5 for box B1. This parallelepiped box is made of cardboard and comprises a one-piece body (5) having a plurality of flanks and fold regions making it possible to fold said flanks in order to form the box into the shape in which it is used. This body has a stable base defined by a horizontal bottom flank (5 a) on which the stack of pre-cut wipe material (M) rests, a vertical front flank (5 b), two lateral flanks (5 c) and a horizontal upper flank (5 d). The upper flank has wings (5 d 1) that are capable of fitting inside and being adjacent to the lateral flanks in a space formed with a flap (5 c 1) formed on each lateral side. The horizontal upper flank rests firmly against the lateral flanks. It also comprises a discontinuity (5 d 2) located opposite the corresponding lateral flank close to the fold region of upper flank (5 d) and of front flank (5 b) to allow insertion of a tab (5 c 1) formed on a rear panel (5 e) described below. The front flank (5 b) also has a view window (5 b 1) located in the lower part of the body so that the volume of stacked material can be checked. Along the fold line and in the central part between front flank (5 b) and horizontal upper flank (5 d) on the one hand and front flank (5 b) and bottom flank (5 a) on the other hand, there are rectangular windows (5 f)-(5 g) with slanting edges at their ends in order to facilitate, if necessary, positioning of the user's fingers when pulling the paper. As stated earlier, the body has a rear panel (5 e) which is articulated along the fold line with bottom flank (5 a). This panel comprises two successive parts that are articulated relative to each other by a fold line with a vertical part (5 e 2) corresponding to front flank (5 b) and a part (5 e 3) in the form of an upper flap provided with tabs (5 c 1) in order to fit over upper flank (5 d) and into the slots or gaps provided for this purpose by the lateral flanks and their flap.

As shown in FIG. 2, part (5 e 3) swings in the direction of arrow (F1) and fits on top of upper flank (5 d). Nonetheless, said part (5 e 3) and upper flank (5 d) do not come into contact and they leave a gap I which is sufficient to allow the strip of wipe material to pass through, as shown in FIG. 5. The U-shaped support plate, as shown in FIG. 5, elastically presses against the upper part (5 e 3) of panel (5 e) without, however, preventing dispensing of the strip of material which gradually passes through as needed. A piece of strip of material is separated when the strip emerges through the upper window, its width is narrower than the width of the strip. The pressure exerted by the support plate is sufficient to ensure tearing along the strip of material's perforated line. Thus, when it emerges from the top in a horizontal plane, the strip of material passes between flank (5 d) and panel (5 e) which are flat and have no raised surface areas.

Box (B2), shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 and used in association with cover (C2) and the common housing, is described below.

In this case, parallelepiped box (B2) is made of cardboard and comprises a one-piece body (6) having a plurality of flanks and fold regions making it possible to fold said flanks in order to form the box into the shape in which it is used. This body has a stable base defined by a horizontal bottom flank (6 a) on which the stack of pre-cut wipe material (M) rests, a vertical front flank (6 b), two lateral flanks (6 c) and a rear flank (6 d). The lateral flanks have inner flaps (6 c 1) which leave a gap into which flaps (6 d 1) formed on panel part (6 d 2) of rear flank (6 d) can fit. Panel (6 d 2) is an extension of the rear vertical part (6 d 3) of said flank (6 d). This panel (6 d 2) is in a horizontal position when the box is closed. In addition, the height of front flank (6 b) is less than the height of the lateral flanks in order to leave a wide window through which the pulled strip of pre-cut material can pass. The top edge (6 b 1) of the front flank is curved to make it possible to guide the strip of material.

When it is in use, as shown in FIG. 8, the pulled strip of material goes round the front flank over its curved upper edge and passes between the inner wall and cover (C2) and the opposite-facing wall of the front flank before emerging from the bottom of the box. In addition, along the fold line between bottom flank (6 a) and front flank (6 b), there is a rectangular window (6 e) with slanting ends in order to make it easier for the user to grip the material.

Because cover (C2) has an outlet window for the strip of material with limit stops (2 m) either side, the pulled strip of material tears easily along its perforated line because the width of the strip of material is reduced as it emerges. Thus, when it emerges from the bottom in a vertical plane, the strip of material passes between cardboard flank (6 h) and plastic cover (C1).

The advantages are readily apparent from the description. The new design of the dispensing machine, which is suitable for holding packaging boxes which may have different configurations and which makes it possible to associate several wipe material dispensing machines by simply modifying the cover, is emphasised. The packaging boxes are advantageously disposable once the strip of material that is to be dispensed has been exhausted. Handling operations are simple to perform.

The packaging boxes themselves cannot dispense separate pieces of strips of wipe material and, similarly, the dispensing machine cannot dispense separate pieces of materials without a packaging box. It is the combination of the characteristics of the housing, its covers (C1) and (C2) and box (B1) or (B2) that fulfils the function of dispensing the wipe material and separating the pieces thereof.

When the material emerges from the top, i.e. in a horizontal plane, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, cover (C1) exerts pressure onto the top of box (B1) to prevent creasing. Separation of pieces of the strip of wipe material is ensured by the sides of the material outlet opening which acts as a separation limit stop.

When the material emerges from the bottom, i.e. in a vertical plane, pressure to prevent creasing is exerted by the two tabs (1 g) formed on the housing. Separation of pieces of material at the base of cover (C2) is ensured by limit stops (2 m). 

1. Dispensing machine for pre-cut wipe materials stored in cardboard packaging boxes, comprising a common housing capable of accommodating two packaging boxes having different configurations allowing a pulled strip of material to emerge respectively from a top or from a bottom of the dispensing machine so that the strip can be cut, in combination with two different covers which fit on said housing, each of said covers being compatible with a different one of said boxes and to allow the strip of material that is to be cut to emerge from various locations of the dispensing machine, the combined shapes of the housing, the packaging boxes and the covers making it possible to selectively dispense and separate strips of wipe material in a given size from the top or bottom of the dispensing machine.
 2. Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing has a frontwardly open parallelepiped shape with a rear face, two lateral faces and a horizontal bottom face to accommodate either one of the boxes, and wherein the housing also has two lower protruding tabs each with an opening in order to hinge either one of the covers, and the rear face is provided with two strips that are pre-cut on three sides and flexible so as to exert thrust when the strips come into contact with a box placed in the housing.
 3. Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the two covers have a common configuration with a forward front wall which corresponds to a front opening of the housing and a horizontal upper wall fitted with a closure member for closing and locking the housing and two lateral flanges, lower ends of the lateral flanges form a tab, each tab having an opening through which a hinge pin for the housing passes.
 4. Dispensing machine, as claimed in claim 3, wherein one cover has, where the front wall and horizontal upper wall meet, a cut-out forming a window through which the pulled strip of material originating from one box can pass, the cut-out has a substantially rectangular configuration and is located in a middle part of the one cover, the one cover has a shaped support plate capable of elastic deformation on a lower inner face of the upper wall, the plate being positioned to press against an upper panel of the one box.
 5. Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the support plate is U shaped and ends of legs of the support plate are attached to the upper wall.
 6. Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein a second cover is provided with a front wall having a lower edge having a cut-out or central window through which the pulled strip of material can pass, and two limits stops on either side of the window in a perpendicular plane which have a discontinuity to guide the pulled material out of the machine, thus facilitating separation of a piece of strip starting from an adjacent perforated line.
 7. Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the one box comprises a one-piece body having a plurality of flanks and fold regions to fold said flanks in order to form a parallelpiped box, and the body comprises a stable base defined by a horizontal bottom flank on which a stack of pre-cut wipe material rests, a vertical front flank, two lateral flanks and a horizontal upper flank, and the upper flank has wings for fitting inside and being adjacent to the lateral flanks in a space formed with a flap formed on each lateral side and the horizontal upper flank presses firmly against the lateral flanks.
 8. Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the upper flank comprises a discontinuity located opposite a corresponding lateral flank close to a fold region of the upper flank and of the front flank to allow insertion of a tab formed on a rear panel.
 9. Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the front flank also has a view window located in a lower part of the body so that volume of stacked material can be checked.
 10. Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the one box comprises, along a fold line and in a central part between the front flank and the horizontal upper flank, and between the front flank and the bottom flank, rectangular windows with slanting edges at their ends upstream from a point where the pieces of strip are separated.
 11. Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the body has a rear panel which is articulated along a fold line with the bottom flank, and this panel comprises two successive parts that are articulated relative to each other by a fold line with a vertical part corresponding to the front flank and an upper flap provided with tabs in order to fit over the upper flank and into slots or gaps provided for this purpose by the lateral flanks and flap.
 12. Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second box comprises a one-piece body having a plurality of flanks and fold regions to fold said flanks in order to form the box into a parallelpiped shape, and the body comprises a stable base defined by a horizontal bottom flank on which a stack of pre-cut wipe material rests, a vertical front flank, two lateral flanks and a rear flank, and the lateral flanks have inner flaps which leave a gap into which flaps formed on a panel part of the rear flank can fit, and panel part is an extension of a rear vertical part of said rear flank, and panel part is in a horizontal position when the second box is closed, and height of front flank is less than height of the lateral flanks in order to leave a window through which the pulled strip of pre-cut material can pass, and a top edge of the front flank is curved to guide the strip of material.
 13. Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein, the strip of material emerges from the top in a horizontal plane, and passes between the horizontal upper flank and the upper flap of the rear panel which are flat and have no raised surface areas.
 14. Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein, the strip of material emerges from the bottom in a vertical plane, and passes between the front flank and the second cover. 